A CONFESSION 3829

As he spoke the woman came in with two large tankards
full of steaming liquid, whose odour at once proclaimed it
tobe spiced ale. “Well, wife, we have done a good night’s
work,” Tony said.

“A good night’s work for all of us,” Charlie put in.
“Your husband has done us an immense service, Mrs.
Peters, and when our fathers come to their own again they
will not forget the service he has rendered us.”’

When they had made a hearty meal Tony was called in
again. ‘Now, Tony, we will proceed to business. You
have got pen and ink and paper, I suppose?”

“JT have everything ready, sir. 1 will clear away this
table so as to have all in order.”

When this was done the highwayman was lifted up and
placed in a chair, and the gag removed from his mouth.

“You don’t remember us, I suppose, my man?” Charlie
began. ‘The last time I saw you was when I brought my
stick down on your head when you were listening outside
a window at Lynnwood.”

An exclamation of surprise broke from the prisoner.

“Yes, I am Charlie Carstairs, and this gentleman is
Harry Jervoise. By the way, I have made a mistake: I
have seen you twice since then. ‘The first time was in a
wayside tavern some twelve miles beyond Barnet nine days
ago; the second time was at another tavern in Barnet.
You will remember that a mischievous boy threw a stone
and broke one of the lattice panes of the window where
you were sitting talking over this little affair of the North
coach.”

A deep execration broke from the lips of the highway-
man.

“Now you see how we know all about it,” Charlie went
on. ‘Now it entirely depends on yourself whether in the
course of another hour we shall hand you over to a magis-
trate as the leader of the gang who robbed the North coach